The Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Surface Engineering for Advanced Materials (SEAM) was Australia’s premier manufacturing Research and Development centre that focused on applied research with tangible outcomes to nurture and cultivate industrial innovation leaders.
The Centre provided an excellent environment for carrying out research and explored projects with industry, government, and other organisations.
SEAM targeted the training of early career researchers in an industrial context and built an international research collaboration network while pursuing ambitious outcomes that were reflected by industry-fit researchers providing commercial benefits for industry.
The outcomes of the applied research and Intellectual Property creation promoted new commercial ventures for Australian and international entrepreneurs.
Three surface engineering themes formed the technological foundation of SEAM, promoting interactions between and among technologies. The themes were: thin films, thick coatings, and additive manufacturing.
SEAM achieved outcomes for all parties involved, including employment for PhD graduates and early career researchers, along with significant research outcomes, directly and immediately applicable to industry. This has included many sectors: biomedical, marine, defence, mining, tool manufacturing, and boiler making with potential to provide breakthroughs for other areas of advanced materials manufacturing. SEAM’s chief investigators, while publishing prolifically, have secured other competitive grant funding, building on their collaborations with SEAM. Partner organisations are continuing their collaborations and professional relationships with academia through ongoing relationships formed during SEAM’s funding period.
